<p>Thanks,, both- He has actually been exploring this-- I'm the one that needs to catch up. I feel like I'm in the dark. There's no ROTC at his school, but he's talking to their contact person at the nearby school where it's run. You're right about this being the exploring phase, although he's not the type to give up once he starts something! I'm hoping that if he goes to KY this summer he'd get a very clear picture of what's in store.</p>
<p>
[quote]
He worked hard to get this spot and is thrilled to have it.
It has nothing to do with his major but to be honest he is waay more interested in Naval Spec. Ops. than his major,lol.
[/quote]
This is the more subtle pro/con about the program. The ROTC programs are developing officers for line postions ... these can be very exciting and rewarding jobs (big pro) and they may well not be related to your son's college major (can be a con). For me when I was a NAVY ROTC this is what tipped me to leave ... I would not be able to use my academic training in the NAVY until I had been in 4-5 years; or until I had completed by initial obligation. BTW - on the flip side most junior officers in the military are given positions with leadership/responsibility unlike anything they could hope for in civilian life at a similar age ... from the get go they will be management and leadership responsibility ... and terrific training for these challenges.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if you can serve full time in the Active Army after graduating from ROTC?</p>
<p>I'm definitely not as knowledgeable as the other people here, but am under the impression that you get 4 years active duty and 4 years in the reserves. I think there's also an option for 8 years in the reserves but not as many choose that route.</p>
<p>lspf72 is correct. You will serve 4 years active duty (5 yrs. if you go aviation) and then 4 years Inactive Reserves. If you go this route don't forget to formally resign your commission after the 8 years or they'll be able to call you up anytime they want for 20 years from your date of commission. Some people have found this out the hard way.</p>
<p>Oh so even if I wanted to do more time on Active duty they wouldn't let me? Or if they would,would they still make me do 4 years Reserve duty?</p>
<p>Because if I end up really loving the military I could want to make it a career.</p>
<p>Yes, you can make it a career. After your first four years, you can committ to another four year tour and so on.</p>
<p>I see. Thanks Packmom!</p>
<p>I’m chiming in a little late here but this still might be helpful to those interested in ROTC.</p>
<p>first of all you mentioned your son being interested in intelligence/analyst work. That is certainly doable through AROTC, the only problem is there is VERY little use for a new 2LT in MI (Mil. Intelligence) units. Because of this, the vast majority of cadets who get MI get branch detailed to combat arms (Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery etc.) and some to support branches like Chem corps. This branch detail means that the cadet will become a 2LT in Infantry (or FA, w/e) for 3 years, until he becomes a Captain at which point he will transfer to Military Intelligence. </p>
<p>It’s not too difficult to get MI provided you have a solid gpa (3.3+) and do well at camp. There is also the opportunity to add on two years to your commitment to get the branch you want. </p>
<p>I only tell you this stuff because the schools AROTC commander might not be so free with this information and might want to tell him only what he wants to hear.</p>
<p>Having said all of that, AROTC is an AMAZING opportunity, provided you are ready for the commitment. The amount of responsibility and leadership skills you get is completely incomparable to any other civilian job. That said, there is a sacrifice for that opportunity. If you are an officer in combat arms deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan you will be working almost non-stop 7 days a week 365 days a year until you go back home. You will also be responsible for around 40 mens lives.</p>
<p>I’ve been to LTC at Ft. Knox and I’ll be headed to LDAC in a couple months so if you, or your son has any questions about that or anything to do with AROTC, I’m more than happy to help. </p>
<p>PS: The “winning” of ROTC scholarships is just clever marketing, almost everyone gets them provided you can pass a PT test and medical screening. If you don’t need it it might be wise to turn it down and only commit to 3 years instead of 4 AD. Luckily I was able to do that.</p>
<p>Thank you, jlwstn - very helpful information, and timely too-- you must have ESP!</p>
<p>We were just discussing the financial end of things. We just finished our tax returns, and realize that S1 will qualify for a lot of aid from his college next year. As I may have mentioned in earlier posts, we wanted to make sure he was not turning to ROTC for financial reasons. Like many families in this economy, we’ve had a bit of a downturn… But, it’s clear to us that he wants to do this regardless of the scholarship.</p>
<p>However, we also just learned that some students DO turn down the ROTC scholarship money. I think his concern is that with no scholarship and the shortened commitment he might not be considered for MI, and/or might not have enough time in service to get experience in that area. Also, is there ever a stigma that someone who turns it down (opting for 3 vs. 4 years active duty) is somehow less committed? At the same time, it’s saving the army a lot of money, though, so maybe it all evens out-- I have no idea.</p>
<p>Oh - and one more question-- Is branch detail voluntary or involuntary??</p>
<p>Obviously, he’d love the intelligence branch, and was told that everyone in the previous class got their first choices. However, he knows that doesn’t always happen, and is currently investigating the other branches. He is signed up for Ft. Knox this summer, and am hoping he’ll have a much clearer view of things on completion. Did you find it helpful? Challenging? Good luck at LDAC this summer. We’d love to hear what it’s like-
Thanks again</p>
<p>Don’t worry at all about any stigma attached to scholarship/non-scholarship 3/4 years. This isn’t something most people in AROTC talk about, no one will know unless you tell them. Also your Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO as we call it) does not affect branching at all.</p>
<p>Branch detail is sort of voluntary, you can request to not get detailed it but a lot of people get assigned it anyways. There are only a handful of branches that do details and MI is the main one. Also, assuming your son gets real lucky and does get assigned straight-up MI I’ve heard that the work you will be doing as a 2LT is less than exciting. You’ll be doing all of the work the CPT’s feel is below them and you don’t have any experience yet so you can’t really do anything of substance. Again, I’ve only heard this, but there is a reason almost every person who gets MI gets detailed: they just don’t need junior officers.</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe that EVERY cadet got their first choice at that school but I guess it’s possible. Only the top 10% in the nation are guaranteed that but those in the top 20% are guaranteed one of their top 3. Everyone at my school got one from their top 3, most from 1-2. It’s sort of something you have to accept and deal with if you join AROTC, you’re only signing up to serve as a commissioned officer, what duty they assign you is never in your contract. Having said that, the vast majority end up being very happy with their assignments. </p>
<p>About LTC: He is probably either going to hate it or really love it. I actually hated it when I was there for the most part but ended up deciding that I wanted to contract anyways. It’s a BIG culture shock to most getting yelled at by Drill Sergeants and waking up at 0500 every morning, some deal with it better than others. I was a lot more timid when I went and they definitely force you to be more assertive by putting you in uncomfortable positions. The best way to succeed is to go in knowing that it’s going to be pretty uncomfortable for a while, but you will learn an immense amount of stuff and be better equipped to decide if AROTC is right for you. Attention to detail and helping out your buddies is key.</p>
<p>Also realize that life at camp is nothing like what your son will be doing at AROTC back at school. That’s one of the big things I was unsure about before I contracted. AROTC is much more laid back and fun. It’s like a fraternity where you wake up at 0530 for PT every day and get hang out in the woods doing training every few weekends. </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you, or your son, has any more questions and good luck!</p>
<p>Edit: Also I meant to add that if you are still wary about anything related to AROTC the school’s Battalion Commander, I’m sure would be more than happy to sit down and talk to you about anything you want. This is part of their job description and they do it all the time. You may already know this but I thought I would mention it.</p>
<p>lsp72,</p>
<p>I’ll chime in. I had the very same concerns that you have about three years ago. S attended and graduated from a top ten college. He joined (army) ROTC after completing 2 years of college and received a 2 year scholarship. At the time, we thought it was a very stupid move on his part, particularly when the country was at war!!</p>
<p>He graduated from college in May and was commissioned as a 2Lt in July of last year.
He officially started active duty in October, working as a ROTC gold bar recruiter at his college. This is something that we NEVER envisioned that he would be doing. He actually has already received an army achievement award and has made many interesting contacts.</p>
<p>He has seen a lot of the country by attending the required leadership courses, and he has lived in different locations. For the most part, he has enjoyed his experiences so far. He has also experienced some frustration with many of the beurocratic policies/ procedures.<br>
That said, he is now training for Military Intelligence. His official branch training started today! He just finished the Officer Leadership course.</p>
<p>S is in the process of getting Top Secret clearance and will be stationed in a part of the country very far from home for the next three years. He doesn’t plan on making the military a career, but his experiences so far have been positive and beneficial to his growth as a future civilian leader. After this training, he will be assigned to a (combat brigade) unit that may be deployed this fall, but we will cross that bridge when the time comes. In the meantime, he has grown as an individual, he is self sufficient financially, and he has a very bright future.</p>
<p>Many of his buddies from his college who took the “Wall Street” track are now unemployed . ;)</p>
<p>I am still a nervous wreck. However, ultimately this seems to have been the right choice for him.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That is key here…his choice. As a retired AF spouse (Bullet went AFROTC and spent 21 yrs active duty) and now a Mom of a AFROTC scholarship recipient. I had to acknowledge his own desires and dreams. It breaks my heart tha I know I will most likely not be there when a baby is born, that holiday dinners will be rare and he might go to some bad places. However, it was his choice for his future, and as a parent all I want is to see his dream to come true. So all I now do is support it and make sure that he can obtain that dream of being commissioned into the US Air Force. Any negative opinion will only build a wall between us. BTW I am very proud of his decision, and loved the AF, so my negatives are almost non-existent, except for my selfish reasons of him staying close to home.</p>
<p>Just from personal experience, Bullet’s mother had stated many times certain negativities against things that he elected to do in the AF. In the end it did create tension. He had no desire to spend time explaining why or how things worked in the military. Don’t go down that path b/c you might lose the unique bond you have with your child. If he desires to see action…don’t say it is the wrong war (there is no right war)…don’t tell him that if he takes an overseas assignment, you just don’t if you’ll ever be able to make it there (guilt will not stop them, but it will cause resentment)…finally, always tell them that you are so proud of them living out their dream and whatever they decide to do you support them. Don’t be like Bullet’s Mom and tell other families you just don’t understand how you raised a war monger (no lie for the haiti invasion she did that!)</p>
<p>bullet,</p>
<p>H & I are very proud of S and completely support him, even though we were not originally in favor of this choice. </p>
<p>In fact, now that he is totally independent, we are closer than ever. We just wish we could see him more often. :(</p>
<p>His sister (who is a high school junior) misses him terribly!</p>
<p>That is wonderful. The old adage distance makes the heart grow fonder is so true.</p>
<p>I will say for myself, there were certain times that I always became weepy as a spouse.</p>
<ol>
<li> Calling home on Sunday and hearing the laughter in the background (all of the family would be there for dinner). It is hard knowing that you can’t join in for the fun!
As a parent I plan to be very cognizant of this.</li>
</ol>
<p>2.Christmas…I would play I’ll be home for xmas over and over again (I am a masochist), but it also gave me hope that one day I would be.</p>
<ol>
<li>Births of my children…there is a total difference of the folks coming to visit and see the baby for a short time and them being able to see them whenever. Never had a goodbye with a thousand tears. Afterall there is no such thng as a GOOD Bye.!</li>
</ol>
<p>I plan to follow my Moms tradition for when our grandbabies come…send stupid little packages mailed to the kids…she would send stickers, lollipops, just stuff she picked up at the dollar store. Bribery works! For @ 20 yrs, everytime she visits she tells me one day the kids won’t want to hang with her and then it will be our time. DS is 19, DD 17 and DS2 is 15. She shows up and it is Meema do you want to play scrabble or Mexican dominoes before the suitcase is in the bedroom! My in-laws show up they hug and kiss and go back to their rooms b/c they never intracted with them.</p>
<p>My very favorite story to hit this home occurred when DS1 was 2 and DD was 4 mos old. Bullet and I took a cruise in Europe, my in-laws came to babysit for the week. They took the kids to the post office and a package was waiting. They had no I.D. to collect, the airman came to the window and said gie it to them that is for XXXX(sons name) from his Meema. They gave it DS got out of the stroller and went to the candy vending machine. In laws couldn’t figure out why…the airman said, XXXX is allowed candy if there is a package, and then he added he likes Reeses pb cups or Kitkats. That is how often my Mom sent packages, the post office knew him! We came home from the cruise and my MIL told the story and asked does your Mom usually send a package a week? We said yes, she was left dumbfounded and asked why. We explained to her for my Mom she always wanted the kids to know she was thinking about them. Her answer…they are under 2 do you really think they know…YES…b/c I say to him that is from Meema and obviously he knew that it is a double treat…stickers from Meema and candy because Meema sent it!</p>
<p>She told us it was a waste of money and time(shipping cost more than the stickers)! 20 yrs later she constantly asks why are the kids so close to my Mom…we now divert the question to a different subject.</p>
<p>I know that was a long story, but the point is they will be gone, think out of the box.</p>
<p>My Mom would also send packages to Bullet when he was at Saddams palace (green zone)… his favorite an old golf club and golf balls…they then use it to unwind at night by hitting golf balls over his pool!</p>
<p>S1 (NROTC) commissions on May 8. He has wanted this since mid. school and never changed his mind. I am (of course) somewhat apprehensive about where it all might lead (He’s going into Spec. Ops) but at the same time tremendously proud of his hard work and dedication. He has learned so much through NROTC. He is very excited about his future. He is not even going to the big college graduation ceremoney. The NROTC commssioning ceremony is the big deal to him.</p>
<p>Wow – thanks, all-
jwlston-- your timing couldn’t be better. S has a big exam at the end of the week, but I’m going to forward him this information. It’s nice to hear from someone whose been there, and recently. Also- here’s a question about LTC that might sound frivolous but really is not–
S is one of those very slender people who has to eat (I’m not kidding) about 6 meal’s worth per day just to keep weight on. Do they feed you enough at Ft. Knox? Also, I was looking at some of the online links he sent me-- some of the exercises involve heights, climbing, etc. Does anyone ever get badly hurt? Heatstroke? (typical mom questions)…</p>
<p>1sokkermom and bulletandpima-- thanks for the advice and encouragement. We weren’t so much caught off guard by S’s interest in the army (he’s been interested in it his whole life) as by having to face the fact that this was something he was actually going to DO. It’s been hard for me to get past thoughts of danger, time and distance to see all the positives in it that he does, but I DO see them. And yes, soon enough we will shift from questions to support. At this point, it’s a bit of both. I’m already trying, as sokkermom says, to cross bridges as they come…!</p>
<p>And PackMom-- congrats to your son!</p>
<p>lspf…here’s what I did for 20 yrs as a spouse…BELIEVE IN FATE…You can’t worry about it, but come to an acceptance that if something bad will happen, you could lock them in a closet and it will still happen.</p>
<p>I always knew that Bullet would do everything to get home to me and the kids…I know you are concerned, but fear is the last thing he needs to see from you.</p>
<p>Kiss him goodbye with no tears in your eyes and tell him you will see him soon. The minute he is out of your sight fall to your knees and wail bloody murder. It is very cathartic…trust me!</p>
<p>Also think of it this way as he travels the word so will you…he gets assigned to Germany you get free lodging!</p>
<p>I apologize if I missed it in this thread, but the particular branch of ROTC is key in getting certain types of jobs. My H who is currently in a uniformed service provided some guidance to a friend’s son re ROTC. He suggested to carefully explore the differences in the branches…the Marines–much more combat oriented. The Army–large but limited choices (this kid was interested in foreign language/pol science), the Navy was the one H felt would offer the broadest range of opportunities. Air Force is a much smaller service, but good opportunities, especially for aviation training.</p>
<p>That said, the types of ROTC programs available is different from campus to campus. At his school, this kid had the choice of Navy or Marines and chose the Marines because he wouldn’t have to take calculus!</p>
<p>Anyway, best of luck to your son. My H often comments that being in the service can be very rewarding, particularly in helping to craft the character, life and leadership skills in young men (and women). He believes it would have been beneficial to S (who had ZERO interest, by the way).</p>
<p>It may be just the right thing for him to be part of. And as many have said, you’ll be along for the ride. I’m sure you’ll go along proudly. Best of luck to him.</p>
<p>Thanks, both–
B&P-- I get what you’re saying, though it will not be easy! He will graduate fluent in Arabic, and with Iraq (supposedly) winding down, and the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan looking more foreboding, we have no idea where he’ll end up. At least he still has 2 years of college left, so I’m trying not to get ahead of myself in the worry department.</p>
<p>Curiouser-- the navy, especially their intelligence branch, sounded pretty great except he’s just not keen on boats, and didn’t think he could handle the time at sea. Our town is located right on a bay, and many local kids grow up boating and working at the marinas. Think we are missing a nautical gene…</p>